Broadway stage and motion picture star Van Johnson was born in Newport 25 August 1916 and lived at 16 Ayrault Street. He attended Rogers High School and worked at odd jobs in Newport before seeking his career in New York. When Gene Kelley left the cast of “Pal Joey,” Johnson moved up from the chorus to the lead role. He went on to star in “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” and many other MGM hits, often returning to Newport to visit his father and attend school reunions. Johnson died in Nyack, NY in 2008 and his belongings were sold at a New Jersey auction house. His 94th birthday date was celebrated with a party at the Jane Pickens Theatre in 2010.
